Mottled shadows filled the valley, and a grim, murderous atmosphere shrouded the entire area.
A breeze brushed the treetops with a rustling sound, as though it, too, were mourning something. Tien Shinhan carefully laid Master Roshi's and Chiaotzu's bodies together, his movements gentle and slow, as though afraid of disturbing their eternal sleep.
He stood silently beside them, his gaze deep, as though piercing through time and space to look straight at the pain and fear within his heart. Complex emotions flickered in his eyes: both anger toward King Piccolo and fear of him. He drew a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
Suddenly, the roar of a plane overhead shattered the valley's silence. Tien Shinhan whipped his head around, his sharp gaze turning toward the sky. The plane drew closer, the sound of its vibrating fuselage growing clearer.
"Here, this is it-the place where the Dragon Ball signal disappeared." A hint of urgency showed in Bulma's voice. She gripped the plane's handle tightly, her eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety.
Launch tightened her grip on her submachine gun and answered with a resolute look, "All right, let's go down and take a look!" Her voice was firm, revealing unquestionable courage.
Yamcha was more cautious. Keeping the plane hovering steadily in the air, he said gravely, "No, let's check the situation first! There might still be enemies down there." His eyes were wary, sweeping their surroundings from time to time.
Oolong complained from beside them, "Nothing's going to go wrong, right? I told you we shouldn't come here. Honestly."
Bulma ignored Oolong's grumbling, her gaze fixed outside the window. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "That's... Tien Shinhan!" The words all but tumbled out of her mouth.
As Yamcha swiftly brought the plane down, everyone rushed out and hurried over to Tien Shinhan. Yamcha was the first to see Master Mutaito's body. His face instantly turned pale, and he hurriedly crouched down, his voice choked with tears. "Master Mutaito... how could this happen?"
Everyone gathered around, tears in their eyes and grief on their faces. An oppressive sorrow hung in the air. Launch and Tien Shinhan stood to one side without speaking, a profound sense of helplessness and resolve showing in Tien Shinhan's eyes.
Yamcha wiped away his tears and stood up, speaking to Tien Shinhan with determination and anguished anger. "Tien Shinhan, we're the only two left now. We have to work together." A resolute light shone in his eyes.
Tien Shinhan nodded, his voice low. "Yamcha, listen. There's still something I have to do." His gaze was firm, revealing an unquestionable determination.
Yamcha watched Tien Shinhan nervously as he hesitated to speak before finally saying, "I... I have to learn the Evil Containment Wave. No matter what, I won't be satisfied until I've defeated King Piccolo."
Yamcha answered urgently, "Then if that's what you're doing, I'll practice the Evil Containment Wave too."
Tien Shinhan shook his head, his tone heavy. "No. You have to have seen the Evil Containment Wave with your own eyes, so you can't learn it. It's not that simple."
Deep disappointment appeared on Yamcha's face. He opened his mouth as though to say something, but before the words could take shape, Tien Shinhan had already turned around with a resolute expression and strode toward the aircraft parked over there.
His movements were swift and decisive, as though he had cast all hesitation and attempts to hold him back out of his mind. The sound of the aircraft's engine starting cut through the silence. Soon, he piloted it away at high speed, becoming a streak of light and shadow.
Everyone stood silently where they were, watching Tien Shinhan's aircraft gradually disappear into the distant sky. Yamcha's face was filled with unwillingness and worry. His hands unconsciously clenched, his fingertips turning slightly white.
Suddenly, a breeze swept past, stirring the dust beside him, yet failing to disperse the layers of fog within his heart.
Afterward, Bulma and the others busied themselves, carefully securing Master Roshi's and Chiaotzu's bodies in cloth bags. Every movement revealed profound respect and grief.
Disbelief showed in everyone's eyes. They could not accept that someone as powerful as Master Mutaito had fallen too.
Yamcha suddenly grew agitated. He rushed toward the now-empty plane and hurriedly contacted Tien Shinhan over the communicator. "Tien Shinhan, come back! I want to practice the Evil Containment Wave too! I want to defeat King Piccolo!" His voice was filled with determination and urgency.
Tien Shinhan answered on the other end of the communicator but remained silent. Then Bulma joined the conversation. "Tien Shinhan, if we find the Dragon Balls again, can't we wish Master Roshi, Chiaotzu, and Krillin back to life?"
But Tien Shinhan's answer was like a basin of cold water, extinguishing every hope. "It's already too late. Shenron has been killed by King Piccolo."
"Shenron... is dead?" The news struck everyone present like thunder out of a clear sky. Too shocked to speak, they exchanged disbelieving looks.
Yamcha soon regained a little composure and spoke into the communicator again. "That's all the more reason I have to train in the Evil Containment Wave. Tien Shinhan, do you hear me?"
Tien Shinhan remained silent on the other end for a moment before finally hanging up in haste, unable to keep himself from thinking, One person going to his death is enough. Just me. His heart was filled with helplessness and self-reproach, but also the resolve of a lone warrior.
Bulma murmured sorrowfully to herself, "Could Goku... really be dead already?" A glimmer of tears flashed in her eyes, her voice low and mournful.
"I keep feeling that Goku is still alive," Puar said softly beside her.
"I feel the same way you do," Yamcha replied.
At last, Bulma sighed. "Anyway, let's go back and wait for now." Her tone carried helplessness and exhaustion.
Then they boarded the plane with Master Roshi's and Chiaotzu's bodies and flew away from this land filled with battle and sorrow.
Night hung low, and silver moonlight spilled over Korin Tower's pillar. Carrying Son Goku on his back, Yajirobe finally reached the top of Korin Tower, panting for breath.
"Lord Korin, long time no see." Son Goku jumped down from Yajirobe's back, rubbed his aching shoulders, and smiled in greeting at Master Korin nearby.
Yajirobe studied Master Korin in puzzlement. This seemingly ordinary cat was actually the legendary sage. "This guy's the sage?" he could not help asking aloud.
"I..." Son Goku said.
Just as Son Goku was about to explain, Master Korin waved a hand and interrupted him. "You don't need to say anything. I already know everything."
"What do you know?" Son Goku leaned closer curiously, his eyes full of puzzlement.
"You suffered a crushing defeat in your battle with King Piccolo, didn't you?" Master Korin slowly walked up to Son Goku, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable certainty.
Son Goku's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know so much?"
Master Korin chuckled softly. "Because I get so bored, I often peek at what's happening below from here." He pointed to a spot beside the tower's edge.
Hearing this, Yajirobe hurried to the edge of the tower and looked down, driven by curiosity, but saw only clouds and mist. He could make nothing out.
"You can see down below from here?"
"Of course you can't see from there," Master Korin said playfully before pointing to a jar on the other side. "Over there."
"Here?" Yajirobe quickly ran over and lifted the jar's lid.
The surface of the water in the jar revealed the scene below. He saw King Piccolo confronting King Dog, mockingly saying that King Dog was his puppet and that he would be in control from now on.
King Dog, who enjoyed his people's deep trust, helplessly said that he could not do it, while King Piccolo laughed derisively.
Son Goku clenched his fists and said to Master Korin, "I want to defeat King Piccolo. Please let me train again."
"Wait. Let's treat your injuries first." Master Korin pondered for a moment, then rummaged out a large jar of Senzu Beans from a corner and tossed one to Son Goku. "Here, eat this!"
"Huh? Isn't this a Senzu Bean?" Son Goku looked at the Senzu Bean.
When Yajirobe heard this, he felt deceived and exclaimed, "These are Senzu Beans? The food sages eat? You tricked me!"
Son Goku gave a helpless smile. "That's right."
"What kind of delicacy is this stuff supposed to be?" Yajirobe angrily snatched the jar from Master Korin's hands. "I went through all that suffering for something like this? Damn it!"
In a fit of anger, he grabbed a large handful of Senzu Beans and stuffed them into his mouth. Feeling it was not enough, he stuffed in another dozen or so handfuls, grumbling discontentedly, "What the heck? These beans don't taste good at all."
Master Korin and Son Goku stared blankly at Yajirobe. He suddenly went rigid, his belly swelling round as he lay on the ground, crying out in pain.
"One of these Senzu Beans keeps you from getting hungry for ten days," Son Goku explained. Then he ate the Senzu Bean in his hand. His injuries healed instantly, and he stared at his hands in disbelief.
"Well? Have your injuries healed?" Master Korin asked.
"They really have! Master Korin, could you teach me again?" Son Goku asked, full of anticipation.
"I'm very sorry, but you've already surpassed me. The gap between all of you and King Piccolo is far too great. Even Mutaito has died," Master Korin said earnestly.
"The old man? How could..."
Hearing this, Son Goku was utterly shocked. All of Master Roshi's teachings surfaced in his mind, and he clenched his fists in anger, wishing he could rush over immediately and kill King Piccolo.
Yet at this critical moment, Master Korin's voice swept away the fog in Son Goku's heart like a refreshing breeze.
"Since you're prepared to die, drink the Ultra Divine Water!" Master Korin's gaze was firm and deep, as though he could see through the shifting winds and clouds of the future.
"Ultra Divine Water? You mean like the Ultra Divine Water?" Son Goku scratched his head in confusion, his eyes filled with incomprehension.
Master Korin smiled faintly and shook his head. "It's nothing like that stuff for tricking children."
Then he turned and led Son Goku toward another jar. Master Korin reached out and gently twisted off its lid. An ancient aura spread out, and he motioned for Son Goku to climb inside.
Son Goku hesitated for a moment, but ultimately climbed into the jar.
A mysterious force enveloped his body, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared in the Far North. This was a frozen world. White snow blanketed the earth, bitter winds howled, and the bone-piercing cold drove one to retreat.
Son Goku looked around and saw only desolation. A trace of loneliness and unease could not help rising in his heart.
Meanwhile, Master Korin cast a spell far away, waving his staff slightly as he chanted.
Before long, Yajirobe's belly gradually began to shrink and returned to normal. A satisfied smile appeared on Master Korin's face. Then he and Yajirobe sat down quietly, waiting for Son Goku's outcome.