"Mr. Nam, take this back with you!" Master Roshi took out a Hoi-Poi Capsule and tossed it to Nam.
Nam stood before Master Roshi, his brows slightly furrowed, and caught the tiny Hoi-Poi Capsule, puzzled.
"This... isn't this a Hoi-Poi Capsule? Why would you..." Nam carefully examined the capsule in his hand, his eyes full of doubt.
Master Roshi smiled faintly and interrupted him. "It's nothing. There's nothing inside it."
His tone was relaxed. "That capsule can hold plenty of water, and you can easily take it home."
Nam's expression turned to astonishment. His eyes widened, and he could scarcely believe his ears. "You... how did you know about the water?"
"I'm Master Mutaito. I can see that much." He lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously.
Delighted surprise instantly spread across Nam's face. He practically jumped up, shouting excitedly, "You really are Master Mutaito!"
"Shh! Shh... you idiot!" Master Roshi hurriedly stopped Nam from shouting and nervously looked around. Only after confirming that no one had noticed their conversation did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Then, afraid of being discovered, Master Roshi pulled Nam outside.
"Why... why did you change your name to enter the tournament?"
There was a hint of curiosity and confusion in Nam's voice.
"I'm sure you know that my two disciples entered this World Martial Arts Tournament too-Krillin and Goku. Under my training, those two have grown faster than I ever imagined and become stronger. Son Goku in particular, aided by his wild nature, has become unbelievably powerful."
Master Roshi explained earnestly.
"That's why I had him enter the World Martial Arts Tournament, to test his strength. But... those two are so strong that I think... he might even win the championship!"
"As you know, they're still immature children. If they win the championship now, it'll surely go to their heads. If that happens, how will they face all the trials ahead?"
"I want them to become more accomplished, greater martial artists. So after a great deal of thought, I decided to enter myself, disguised as someone else, to teach them that beyond every expert stands another, and beyond every heaven lies another heaven!"
"So that means your hair really is a wig?"
After hearing Master Roshi's explanation, Nam innocently pointed at his hair and asked.
"Yes! I was afraid the wig would fall off, so I stuck it on with some super-strong glue. My head really itches now."
Master Roshi scratched his head as he spoke.
Nam couldn't help laughing, his admiration for Master Roshi deepening further.
"It's an honor to speak with you, Master."
Nam bowed deeply, his eyes filled with gratitude and respect. "Speaking of which... I'd like to return the Hoi-Poi Capsule you gave me, Master Mutaito."
Huh?
"I'm terribly sorry. I don't have the money to buy water, so I won't need it."
"Oh, hahaha... Mr. Nam, come with me!"
Master Roshi led Nam to the well and pointed at its opening.
"Look at that... there's plenty of water around here. No matter how much you use, it's free. If you tried to buy it from someone, they'd laugh at you!"
Nam's eyes widened in astonishment, his heart filled with gratitude and delighted surprise.
"Is... is that really true?"
He pressed his palms together and solemnly bowed to Master Roshi.
"Thank you so much, Mutaito... no, Mr. Jackie Chun! I'll never forget your great kindness as long as I live!"
"It's fine if you forget. Goodbye!"
Master Roshi waved without looking back.
Nam watched Master Roshi's retreating figure, filled with gratitude and admiration.
Then, beaming with joy, he drew water from the well and put it into the Hoi-Poi Capsule.
q(≧▽≦q)
"The fourth match pits contestant Krillin against contestant Yamcha! This is the final match for a place in the quarterfinals. Who will rise above the rest? Let's wait and see..."
The break passed in a flash.
Krillin and Yamcha stepped into the ring one after the other, their eyes meeting as tension filled the air.
"Let me see just how good Master Mutaito's disciple is!" Yamcha took his opening stance, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit.
Krillin likewise took his opening stance, ready for battle.
At the referee's command, the two became blurs and charged toward each other.
The spectators held their breath in concentration, their eyes fixed on every movement in the ring.
Atatatata...
Tatatata...
They traded dozens of moves, fists and feet crossing at such dizzying speed that it dazzled the eyes.
Below the ring, Bulma and Puar kept cheering for Yamcha, while Son Goku clenched his fists and cheered Krillin on.
"Wolf Fang... Fist!"
They had done enough probing, and Yamcha intended to unleash his signature technique.
He formed his hands into claws and launched a rapid barrage at Krillin.
"Aaah!"
Unable to dodge in time, Krillin took the attack head-on and was knocked to the ground.
At this point, Krillin didn't have any particular unarmed techniques. He relied on his trained physique to fight, but against Yamcha, that was no advantage.
After taking a Wolf Fang Fist head-on, Krillin staggered to his feet. He was already an arrow at the end of its flight.
Why did I get back up? I should've just stayed down, Krillin thought with a bitter inward smile.
But since he was already standing, he might as well keep going!
Giving up of his own accord was out of the question.
"Yah..."
Krillin stumbled toward Yamcha and threw a punch at him.
Yamcha calmly watched Krillin charge. As the fist swung toward him, he shifted slightly aside, dodging it, and seized the chance to punch Krillin in the abdomen.
"Urgh..."
Krillin spat up sour fluid, his eyes widening before he fainted.
As he fell, Yamcha caught him and gently laid him on the ground.
"Contestant Yamcha wins! He advances to the semifinals! All right, everyone, we'll now take a ten-minute break. Stay tuned for the semifinals!"
Son Goku rushed into the ring to check on Krillin. Finding that he was all right, he breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled at Yamcha and said:
"You've gotten so strong! I really want to fight you. The old man I'm facing next is really strong too."
"Son Goku, I'd like another match with you too, but Wumu and Jackie Chun are no pushovers."
Yamcha spoke gravely. He knew Jackie Chun was Master Roshi's alias.
He didn't believe Son Goku could defeat Master Mutaito, and after watching Nam's match against Wumu, he felt Wumu would be incredibly difficult to handle.
Back in the waiting room, Son Goku laid Krillin on a bench.
Then Yamcha turned his gaze toward Wumu, who was resting with his eyes closed.
Sensing his gaze, Wumu opened his eyes and looked over. Seeing Yamcha, he nodded and smiled faintly.
Yamcha won, just as expected. If I win this match and nothing goes wrong on Master Roshi's side, I should be fighting him.
Master Roshi knew many ki techniques, and his unarmed combat skills were particularly formidable too. Wumu's Bajiquan was only an unarmed martial art. Although he had developed ki, he had never trained in any techniques.
Besides, the world of his previous life had been a world without magic, where Bajiquan only made one stronger than ordinary people.
With that in mind, Wumu decided to use the Prince's Fighting Style. It was the only Ki Blast technique that required little technical skill: he would simply pour out all the ki in his body at once.
Seeing Wumu's smile, Yamcha frowned, then said to Goku:
"Goku, do your best!"
With that, he walked toward Master Roshi.
"It'd look pretty bad if you lost to your disciple!"
Master Roshi jolted at those words and said:
"Ah... what disciple?"
Yamcha merely smiled and left without answering. Master Roshi wiped away his cold sweat and thought:
What a sharp young man!
"This World Martial Arts Tournament has been amazing! Hahaha... that boy Wumu is really something too. I wonder if he can win the championship."
Uncle Malo chuckled good-naturedly.
"Big Brother Wumu will definitely win!"
Yalijia shouted, her eyes shining with admiration.
"All right, all right... he'll win, he'll win! Hahaha..."
Malo laughed heartily, his eyes full of affection.
Maria covered her mouth as she laughed, watching the father and daughter talk with happiness, her heart filled with warmth.
The break soon ended. The announcer walked into the ring with his microphone and announced in a booming voice:
"The semifinals now begin! In the first match, contestant Son Goku will face contestant Jackie Chun..."
Hearing this, everyone in the waiting room filed out, and Jackie Chun and Son Goku stepped into the ring.
This time, apart from Krillin, who was still unconscious, even Wumu came to watch.