Krillin walked to the edge of the ring and extended his hand toward Jackie Chun.
"Senior Jackie Chun, you're very strong. If you hadn't exhausted so much energy in your previous match, I never could have beaten you. I had the advantage this time."
Jackie Chun was stunned for a moment, then broke into a slight smile.
He gratefully grasped Krillin's hand and stood up, "Hmph, at least you know what's good for you, kid!"
With that, he jumped down from the ring.
Krillin shouted after him, "Anyway, thank you for not killing Goku. Because of my promise to him, I had to give it my all. Next time, I'll defeat you with my own strength."
Jackie Chun stopped in his tracks and turned his head. His eyes overflowed with satisfaction. He smiled at Krillin, then left the crowd alone.
At that moment, a message flashed through Goku's mind.
〔 Mission completed! Rewarding the host immediately! 〕
In an instant, Goku felt his mind become exceptionally clear.
The knowledge he had learned and his understanding of martial arts seemed to organize themselves automatically. His understanding deepened.
The crowd began chanting Krillin's name.
Seeing him enjoy the cheers and applause, Goku ran onto the ring and celebrated with his good brother.
However, at this moment, everyone seemed to move in slow motion. They cheered, they jumped for joy…
After his comprehension increased, countless insights flooded his heart. He had a particular feeling.
His Battle Power had increased too quickly. He hadn't properly faced an opponent of equal strength, which meant his experience fighting strong opponents was severely lacking — this was a terrible thing.
The original Goku could defeat stronger enemies and improve himself in battle. But if Vegeta's Battle Power was even slightly lower than his enemy's, he had almost no chance of winning.
And now, he had become a fake Goku. Although he had cheats, blindly pursuing higher battle power had led him down an inferior path — that was something Vegeta liked to do.
A drop of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. When he came to participate in the tournament, he felt something was off, but he couldn't figure out what it was and thought he had just become arrogant.
Now that his comprehension had been enhanced, he finally understood where this unease came from. His path had become too narrow.
There's always a higher mountain, there's always someone stronger — this great principle passed down from the ancestors was absolutely right.
He couldn't help but feel fortunate that he realized this so quickly. In the future, he must never neglect training in combat techniques.
Soon, the referee brought over the prize money of 500,000 Zeni and delivered it to Krillin.
"The champion of this World Martial Arts Tournament is Krillin — let's cheer for him!"
"Krillin, Krillin!"
Enthusiastic applause erupted from the crowd.
Krillin held the money, grinning from ear to ear. 500,000 Zeni was still worth a lot in this era — roughly equivalent to 10 million twenty years later.
He collected the prize money and descended from the ring with Goku. He looked left and right but didn't see Master Roshi anywhere.
"Where did Master Roshi go? How strange!"
Goku smiled, "He must have gone to the bathroom. If we wait a bit, he'll show up. You said you'd treat me to a meal — are you ready? Today I'm going to eat you broke!"
Krillin laughed, "I'm not afraid. I don't believe you can eat through 500,000!"
Goku rubbed his belly. He hadn't expended much energy, so he really couldn't eat that much.
"Then at least 100,000 worth!"
Krillin was shocked, "What? You're going to eat 100,000 worth of food?"
At that moment, a little girl approached them.
She pulled out an exquisite card and looked up at Krillin, "Mr. Krillin, could you give me your autograph?"
Krillin was stunned.
On the card, a little figure was drawn in a crooked manner. Though abstract, you could tell it was a bald person.
He solemnly signed it for her. The little girl left happily, but Krillin stared at her departing figure, dazed.
Goku shook him, "Hey, Krillin, stop spacing out. Tell me — what does it feel like to be an idol?"
Krillin withdrew his gaze and said excitedly, "It feels fucking amazing!"
At that moment, Roshi came running over.
When Krillin saw him, he immediately asked, "Master Roshi, where did you go? Did you watch our match?"
Roshi smiled, "You two did well — I'm very satisfied! Especially you, Krillin. You even won the championship. That's really remarkable!"
Krillin scratched his head sheepishly, "Heh heh heh, you're making me embarrassed. Actually, I know very well that old man Jackie Chun had exhausted too much energy fighting Goku. Otherwise, I couldn't have beaten him. I might not even have been able to beat Goku. This victory was part skill, but mostly luck. This world truly has people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens."
Roshi immediately agreed, "That's right. There are plenty of formidable people in this world — people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens. You mustn't get complacent in martial arts just because of this achievement. The real training is only just beginning."
Krillin and Goku nodded in unison, "Master, we understand!"
Meanwhile, Roshi couldn't help but complain inwardly: 'Ah, teaching them takes so much effort. This old man is exhausted.'
Krillin pulled out the prize money, "Master, I got the prize money. Let's all go eat together!"
Roshi said, "I saw a promising martial arts talent in the audience. Wait a moment!"
Both Krillin and Goku were stunned. Soon, Roshi returned leading Yamcha.
Seeing him approach, a flash of understanding passed through Goku's eyes.
He hadn't spotted him from the audience — Roshi must have fought him in the ring and taken a liking to his talent.
After Yamcha approached, he immediately greeted them.
"Hello, Goku. This is our second meeting."
Goku didn't hesitate and extended his hand, "Hello!"
Roshi looked surprised, "Eh, you know each other?"
Yamcha scratched his head with a bitter smile, "Yes, we do. It's all bad memories. When I tried to rob him before, he beat me up…"
✩✩✩✩✩
Soon, the group arrived at a restaurant.
Goku didn't eat an enormous amount, but he still consumed about 100,000 worth of food.
Krillin couldn't help but lament, "Goku, you can really eat! I was thinking of saving this prize money to get married someday…"
Goku patted him on the shoulder, "Don't be so stingy. You're the world champion now. Once you grow up and gain fame, you'll have endless money to earn."
Krillin's eyes focused, "That's right! I'll keep winning championships. I want to become an idol. That way many girls will like me!"
Goku, "Congratulations, Krillin. You've finally remembered your original motivation!"
Roshi happily rubbed his hands together and said expectantly, "Krillin, if you get rich in the future, you must find your master a beautiful girl too…"
Krillin immediately laughed heartily, "No problem! When the time comes, I'll invite all the models from those photo magazines for you, Master."
Hearing his grand promise, Roshi almost had a nosebleed.
"Ha ha ha ha… Krillin, you truly are my good disciple!"
Hearing them discuss this topic, Yamcha's expression grew uncomfortable.
Goku asked curiously, "Yamcha, what's wrong? Why do you look so uncomfortable?"
Krillin asked, "Isn't the topic between men always women? Yet you're avoiding it — don't tell me you have kidney deficiency?"
Puar immediately explained, "That's not it at all! Young master just has gynophobia…"
Krillin scratched his head, "Gynophobia? What's that?"
Goku explained, "There's a condition where your legs go weak the moment you see a woman. I bet that's what he has."
Krillin was shocked and quickly stepped back two paces, "Whoa, you're not gay, are you?"
Puar explained again, "No, no, young master doesn't like men either…"
Roshi always loved to joke around, but at this moment he frowned, "If you have that problem, you can't train at my place."
Yamcha was startled, "Why not?"
Krillin explained, "Because Launch is living at Kame House right now…"
When he heard this, Goku realized he needed to take Launch away — not because of Yamcha's gynophobia, but because leaving her there without him would make it easy for the old pervert to take advantage of her.
Goku stood up, "Don't worry, I'll go back and take Launch with me. No one's watching my place at Mount Paozu right now, so I'll have her stay there."
Roshi had wanted to object, but thinking it over, he couldn't take advantage of Launch anyway. And Yamcha, this new disciple, would be offering his apprenticeship gift soon — it was time to find a gentler girl.
As for the gynophobia, he could only chuckle to himself. Yamcha simply hadn't seen enough of the world. Just take him to a nightclub once, and he'd probably end up playing around more than anyone else. Bringing girls back for him shouldn't be a problem.
He said, "Taking Launch away is fine. Her personality is too unstable. It'll save me from constantly being on edge."
Yamcha looked at Goku gratefully, "Thank you!"
Goku waved his hand, "Don't mention it — it's what I should do!"
At that moment, Roshi turned to Yamcha, "By the way, don't get too happy yet. Becoming a disciple of my Turtle School isn't simple. You'll need to find me a cute, pretty girl to come live on the island for a while before I'll agree to teach you martial arts."
"What?" Yamcha felt intimidated, "Master Roshi, you're not joking, are you? How can there be such an absurd requirement?"
Roshi shrugged, "Is this requirement absurd? Krillin and Goku were admitted on the same day, and Launch is who they brought back."
Yamcha looked at the boys in disbelief, as if asking them to confirm. Both nodded vigorously.
Krillin said, "That's right. Master Roshi has very high standards for taking on disciples. Back then, Goku and I went through great effort to bring a girl to the island. Only after that did Master Roshi agree to teach us."
Yamcha was dumbfounded.
Forget bringing a girl to the island — even just looking at a girl made his legs go weak.
It seemed studying at Kame House was out of the question.
Before Roshi could mention he could cure his gynophobia, Puar came up with a solution.
He looked at the old man, "As long as she's pretty and cute, anyone will do?"
Roshi nodded immediately, "Of course!"
"You won't do anything inappropriate, will you?" Puar asked with concern.
Roshi said righteously, "What could I possibly do? Looking at beautiful women brings joy to body and mind and extends one's lifespan. I'm an old man who just wants to look at beautiful women and live a few more years — what's wrong with that?"
Puar nodded reluctantly, "Just looking, then there's no problem."
As he spoke, he went Poof! and transformed into a curvaceous, sexy beauty.
"Master, if I transform into a girl, will you let young master study martial arts with you?"
Goku and Krillin both stared in shock.
Krillin's face lit up with delight, "Is this a transformation technique? That's amazing!"
Seeing the beauty Puar had become, Yamcha's expression didn't change at all — he was too familiar with his lifelong friend.
He explained to Krillin and the others, "Yes, Puar's transformation lets him turn into anyone or anything. He tried transforming into a beauty before to help me overcome my gynophobia, but unfortunately, I'm not scared because I know it's him. When I face a real girl, I still can't stay calm…"
Krillin and Goku nodded in understanding.
Roshi's eyeballs nearly popped out when he saw the girl Puar had transformed into.
"Yes, yes… absolutely yes! From this day forward, Yamcha is a disciple of Master Roshi."
Yamcha's mouth twitched. This Master might not be a proper person — this feels so humiliating…
But thinking of Goku and Krillin's prowess at the tournament today, and remembering how Master Roshi had given Nam his golden cloud, Yamcha convinced himself that Master Roshi must be lecherous on the surface but upright at heart.
That way, he seemed more approachable. Becoming Master Roshi's disciple this way felt worth it.
Yamcha's eyes grew more determined.
After eating their fill, Krillin suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Goku, you're taking Launch to your place, then coming back to train — do you plan to have her live alone on the mountain?"
Goku shook his head, "No, I'm not planning to come back to train."
Krillin was shocked, "What? You're not coming back to Kame House?"
Goku nodded, "Right!"
Krillin looked confused, "Why not?"
Roshi looked at him, "Krillin, even if you and Goku both return to Kame House, you'd just repeat your previous training. With your strength at this level, there's nothing more I can teach you. But remember: there's always someone better, always a higher mountain. Don't become complacent. How much you grow from here depends on your individual training."
Krillin was stunned.
He suddenly realized that although training under Roshi had been brief, the results were more effective than the years he'd spent getting beaten at Orin Temple.
He had just won the World Championship!
That achievement — though it involved some luck — at least placed him in the top three. To advance further, he would need to forge his own path.
Krillin nodded vigorously, "I understand!"
As he spoke, he thought about the wandering life ahead and reached into his pocket. He took out the remaining 400,000 in prize money, split it in half, and placed it on the table, looking at Goku.
"Goku, since we both need to go out and train, we need to be prepared. Out in the world, you can't get anywhere without money — whether it's food or lodging, it all costs. Let's split the remaining prize money between us brothers, 200,000 each!"
He pushed the money toward Goku.
Goku quickly pushed it back, "No, no need, Krillin. Have you forgotten? I have a rich girlfriend — I don't need this pocket change…"
Krillin looked at him in astonishment, frozen in place.
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want more chapters of this novel or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)